Healthcare Industry News:  total hip replacement 

Devices Orthopaedic

 News Release - December 7, 2007

New Industry Data Demonstrates the Superiority of the BIRMINGHAM HIP(TM) Resurfacing System

Data collected over the past six years by the Australian Registry shows the BHR(TM) device to have the highest hip resurfacing system survivability rate in the world

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Smith & Nephew, Inc.’s (NYSE: SNN ) (LSE: SN ) Orthopaedic Reconstruction business today welcomed the release of six-year clinical data that confirms the clinical superiority of Smith & Nephew, Inc.’s BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system (BHR™). The report was issued by the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry, one of the most comprehensive registries of its kind, on 1 October 2007. Data was tracked from September 1999 to December 2006 and revealed that the BHR device has the highest hip resurfacing system survivability rate among all of its established competitors for which data had been collected, highlighting the system’s continuing exceptional clinical performance.

Highlights from the report:

  • Since the inception of the registry, the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system has been the overwhelming choice of patients – over 75% of resurfacing procedures have used the BHR device
  • The BHR system has a revision rate of 0.8 per 100 component years or 2.5%
  • The BHR system’s rate is derived from 19,585 component years, 19 times that of any other resurfacing competitor
  • Three alternative hip resurfacing systems were cited for their high revision rates
  • According to the registry, hip resurfacing accounts for 7.9% of all primary hip replacements

“We are extremely pleased with the Registry’s results. The report once again highlights the ability of the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system to help people maintain the most active and healthy lifestyle possible,” said Joseph DeVivo, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic Reconstruction. “The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System lets active people live the life they love and continue to pursue their passions. The long-term clinical data available clearly demonstrates the benefits of the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system, which is the gold standard for resurfacing technology in the world and a significant addition to our reconstructive product portfolio in the United States.”

The seventh Annual Report of the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry (AOA NJRR) is one of the most comprehensive studies of joint replacement procedures in the world.

By carefully studying the timing and reasons for revision surgery as well as mortality rates, the Registry measures the success rates of products and procedures across Australia. This year’s report is based on the analysis of 332,700 hip and knee procedures undertaken in 271,188 patients with a procedure date from September 1999 through 31 December 2006.

The study is highly regarded for its comprehensiveness and accuracy because the Registry is able to obtain an almost complete set of data relating to hip and knee joint replacement for an entire country. The Registry receives information from all hospitals (public and private) undertaking joint replacement. Using a strict validation process and following retrieval of unreported records and checking of unmatched data, the initial validation for the 2005/6 Registry data resulted in over 96% of Registry records verified against health department data.

About Hip Resurfacing and the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System

Hip resurfacing is a bone conserving alternative to traditional total hip replacement for patients suffering from abnormalities of the hip, including osteoarthritis.

The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system conserves more of a patient’s bone than a traditional hip replacement, enabling younger, more active patients to undergo hip replacement surgery while preserving all future surgery options, including a primary hip replacement. The design of The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system also offers patients a reduced risk of dislocation.

Developed by Surgeons Derek McMinn and Ronan Treacy, BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system was first introduced in July 1997 in the UK and has now been implanted in nearly 80,000 patients in 26 countries.

For more information on the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system, visit www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com.

About the Australian Orthopaedic Association

The Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) is the peak professional body for orthopaedic surgeons in Australia. AOA provides high quality specialist education, training and continuing professional development. AOA is committed to ensuring the highest possible standard of orthopaedic care and is the leading authority in the provision of orthopaedic information to the community. AOA actively supports scientific research and orthopaedic humanitarian initiatives, including overseas orthopaedic programs.

About us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma & Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2006 were nearly $2.8 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


Source: Smith & Nephew

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